When the sacred narration of the Devi Bhagavata Purana is undertaken, it brings relief from suffering, dispels fear of rulers, bestows knowledge, and grants many other blessings in succession. As Shiva himself has instructed, the circle for hearing the Purana must first be purified. Alternatively, for the delight of the Goddess, one may listen to the Purana during any month, but especially during the four Navaratri festivals. Careful attention should be given to purifying the date, day, and star before beginning. The arrangements for this sacred event should be as thorough as those for weddings or other important ceremonies. The wise must perform every required act with diligence and reverence. Many companions should be gathered—people who are free from deceit and greed, clever and generous, and devoted to the Goddess. Messengers should be sent out to every region and among all people, inviting everyone to come, for the sacred story of the Goddess will be narrated. Followers of Surya, Ganapati, Shiva, Shakti, and Vishnu—all are welcome, for here the gods and their powers are worshipped together. Those eager for the nectar-like essence of the glorious Devi Bhagavata, especially those whose hearts are devoted to the story, should come. Brahmins and people of other castes, women, and those in every stage of life, whether desiring or free from desire, are invited to drink the nectar of this sacred narrative. No mention of eating should be permitted during the event; everyone should arrive at the proper time for the sacrifice, and their stay should be only for a meritorious moment. All dealings with people should be conducted with humility, and suitable lodging should be arranged for those who have arrived. The place for narration must be prepared on the ground, first thoroughly cleaned and then smeared with cow dung, in a spacious and pleasing area. A beautiful pavilion should be constructed, adorned with plantain pillars and decorated above with canopies, banners, and flags. A divine seat, furnished with comfortable coverings, should be arranged for the speaker, facing east or north. Appropriate seats should also be provided for the listeners, both men and women, so they may hear the narration comfortably. The ideal speaker is one who is eloquent, self-controlled, learned in scripture, devoted to the Goddess, compassionate, unattached, skillful, and steadfast. The listeners should be devoted to Brahman, worshippers of the gods, intent on the essence of the narration, generous, humble, free from greed and violence. Those who are heretical, greedy, lustful, hypocritical, harsh, or prone to anger are not fit to be speakers in the sacrifice to the Goddess. To resolve doubts, a learned and virtuous person should be present, instructing the listeners and serving as an assistant to the speaker, remaining undistracted. At an auspicious time during the day, the speaker, listeners, and others should perform shaving and similar rites, then undertake the prescribed observances. At sunrise, after bathing and purification, one should briefly perform the daily rites of twilight worship and offerings to the ancestors. To attain fitness for hearing the narration, cows should be given as gifts, and at the outset, Ganapati must be worshipped as the remover of obstacles. After installing water pots, one should worship the guardians of the directions, the boy-deity who protects the field, the Yoginis, and the Mothers. The tulasi plant should be worshipped, as well as the planets, Vishnu, and Shankara. The World-Mother is then worshipped with the nine-syllabled mantra. The sacred Bhāgavata book should be honored with all offerings, properly venerating the Goddess’s embodiment in words, using beautiful and auspicious letters. To remove obstacles to the narration, a learned Brahmin should be chosen; the nine-syllabled mantra and the Saptaśatī hymn should be recited. After performing circumambulation and salutations, one should recite the hymn: “O Kātyāyanī, Great Power, Bhavānī, Sovereign of the Worlds.” One should pray, “O Compassionate One, lift me up who am sunk in the ocean of worldly existence; O Mother of the Universe, worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, be gracious.” Then, “O Goddess, grant the boon my mind desires; I bow to you.” Having thus prayed, one should listen to the story with a steady mind. The narrator should be honored, regarded as Vyasa himself, adorned with garlands, ornaments, cloth, and the like, and then respectfully requested to begin. One should address him: “O knower of all scriptures and histories, embodiment of Vyasa, I bow to you. Dispel the dense darkness within me by the moonrise of the story.” Thereafter, for nine days, the prescribed observances should be performed. First, having seated and honored the Brahmins and others, one should sit down oneself. One should listen attentively to obtain the fruits of the four aims of life, setting aside heavy thoughts of home, children, and spouse. Beginning at sunrise and continuing until a little remains of the sun, after resting briefly, the wise should have the recitation done at midday. To master bodily urges, light food is recommended; the one desiring the story should eat havis food only once. Alternatively, one may subsist on fruits, milk, or clarified butter; the wise should act so that nothing hinders the story. Now, the discipline for those devoted to hearing the story is declared. Those who perceive divisions among Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara, who lack devotion to the Goddess, who are heretical, violent, wicked, hostile to Brahmins, or atheists, are not fit to hear the story. Those greedy for Brahminical wealth, for others’ wives or property, or for divine wealth, have no right to hear the story. A celibate, one who sleeps on the ground, speaks the truth, and controls his senses, should eat at the conclusion of the story, with self-restraint, from a leaf plate. One observing the vow should avoid eggplant, bottle gourd, oil, split pulses, honey, burnt food, stale food, and food prepared with ill intent. He should not eat meat, lentils, food seen by a menstruating woman, garlic, radish, asafoetida, onion, or coriander. Thus, with all these preparations and disciplines observed, the sacred narration of the Devi Bhagavata Purana may be undertaken, bestowing blessings, wisdom, and the grace of the Goddess upon all who participate with devotion.